Engine starting device.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE LANGNER, OF WHITESTONE LANDING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THEDAYTON ENGINEERING LABORATORIES COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11y 30, 1918,

Application filed July 21,1913. Serial No. 780,256.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE LANGNER, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Whitestone Landing, Long Island, State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine StartingDevices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

This invention relates to improvements in starting systems for enginesor the like and more particularly to improvements in starting systemsfor the internal combustion engines of automobiles, motor vehicles, etc.

The objectof the invention is to prevent the improper actuation of thestarting device and the consequent injury to the apparatus, and to avoidthe possibility of accidents.

In accordance with one feature of my invention, I so arrange that thestarting device cannot start to work until it is connected with theengine. In applying my invention to starting systems in which a frictiontransmission is employed between the starting device and the engine, Iso arrange that the starting device cannot begin to work until there issufficient friction between the friction transmission members to insurethat no slip shall take place between them. I also so arrange that itshall not be possible to start the starting motor and then throw in thefriction transmission, in order that the starting motor will alwaysstart under load and will receive no shock as would otherwise be thecase if it were first started and coupled with the engine subsequently.

A preferred form of the invention as applied to an electrically operatedstarting device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the starting devicemounted on the chassis of an automobile, and,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of'the controlling mechanism of the startingdevice on a larger scale.

Referring to Fig. 1, the starting device 1, preferably consisting of aseries wound dynamoelectric-machine, is adapted to rotate the enginefly-wheel 2 through the transmission shaft 3, connected to the startingdevice through the universal joint 4 and roller clutch 5, and carryingin proximity to the periphery of the fly-wheel, a cyllndrioal frictionmember 6 made of hard rubber, canvas or any other suitable material ormixture of materials.

The aforesaid transmission mechanism is controlled by the foot pedal 7,pivoted on the shaft 8, and carrying the lcvcrarm 9, the free end ofwhich engages with a movable journal 10, in which said shaft 3 is journaled, said ournal being guided for vertical movement by suitableguides 11, mounted on the cross bar 12. It will be obvious that upon thedepression of the pedal, the lever arm 9 will depress the journal 10 andconsequently force the friction member 6 strongly against the flywheel.

The pedal system just described is so proportioned that when the pedalis fully depressed, suiiicient leverage is secured to in sure that noslip takes place between the fraction member and the fly-wheel when thestarting device is running.

A short lever arm 13 extends from the hub of the pedal, and is adapted,when the pedal is fully depressed, to close electrical contacts 14, 15arranged in the circuit between the battery 17 and the starting device.A push button 18 also controls a second pair of contacts 19, 20 arrangedin said circuit. Upon depressing the starting pedal to its fullestextent, the friction member is brought into contact with the fiy-wheelwith the requisite degree of friction and the contacts 14, 15 aresimultaneously closed by the short lever arm 13; the push button 18 isthen depressed and current flows from the battery into the startingdevice, causing the operation of said starting device and the consequentstarting of the engine, through said friction drive.

It will be understood from the foregoing that if the driver does notdepress the pedal sufliciently, the starting device cannot operate upondepression of the push button 18, as the contacts 14, 15 will be open.Furthermore, it will be impossible to cause an initial operation of thestarting device by actuating the push button 18, and then to connect thestarting device with the engine. A set screw 21 serves for adjusting thecontact member 14.

It will be understood that the present invention is capable of variousmodifications both as to the various units and combinations of unitscomprising said invention in accordance with the scope of the claimsappended hereto. 7

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes apreferred form or embodiment of the invention, it is to be understoodthat other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of theclaims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. An engine starting system comprising in combination with an engine, astarting device, a normally dis-established connection betweenthestarting device and the engine, a manually actuated controllingmemberoperative solely for controlling the rotation of the starting device, aseparate manually actuated controlling member adapted to establish ordis-establish said connection, and means for rendering the first namedcontrolling member ineffective until said second I named controllingmember has been actuated. V

2. An engine starting system comprising in combination with an engine,an electric motor, a battery, normally open electrical conectionsbetween said motor and battery, normally dis-established mechanicalconnection between said motor and engine, an operating member forestablishing said mechanical connection and closing part of saidelectrical coimections, and a circuit controlling membcr operativesolely for completing the closing of said electrlc connections.

In testimony whereof I affix my slgnature 1n the presence of twosubscribing witnesses;

J. W. MCDONALD, WALTER W. RIEDEL.

Copies of this patent may be'obtained for. five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. I Washington, D. G.

